Luis國際資訊事務所

There are lots of ideas about how to live greener these days. Some of them are simple, some are more complicated, and some are just totally strange! One strange and somewhat creepy way to be green is called vermicomposting1. Regular composting2 is letting organic waste decompose3 naturally. A lot of our everyday waste is organic material such as food scraps4. Instead of filling up a garbage bag with this kitchen waste, many people choose to compost it. In fact, it is one of the most common ways to be environmentally friendly.

　　So what is vermicomposting? It is composting with a twist. The "vermi" part of vermicomposting refers to worms. These wiggly5 creatures love food scraps and are always eager to eat. They can eat up to half their weight in food every day. When worms digest kitchen waste, they help decrease composting time. The result is rich, organic compost that is great for house plants and gardens. Another bonus of vermicomposting is that it cuts down on the bad smell that is created during regular composting.

　　Vermicomposting is a great choice for people who live in the city or don't have room to compost outside. All you need is a large container with a cover, paper waste, peat moss6, some water, and of course, worms. When worms are put to work for the environment, they become superheroes!

近 來出現了許多讓生活更環保的點子。其中有些點子很簡單、有的很複雜，還有一些簡直就是奇怪到家！有一個既古怪、還有點恐怖的環保方式叫做蠕蟲堆肥法。一般 的堆肥就是讓有機廢料自然分解。我們日常的廢棄物中，有許多都是諸如剩菜剩飯等的有機物質。與其讓廚餘裝滿垃圾袋，許多人選擇把它們拿來堆肥。事實上，這 是最為常見的環保方法之一。

那麼到底何謂蠕蟲堆肥法？那就是一種『加料的』堆肥法。vermicomposting中的vermi指的就是蠕蟲。這些扭來扭去的生物最愛剩菜剩飯，而 且總是迫不及待要飽餐一頓。牠們每天能吃下多達牠們體重一半的食物。蠕蟲在消化廚餘時，牠們有助於減少堆肥所需的時間。成果就是產生適合室內植栽及花園的 營養有機肥料。蠕蟲堆肥法的另一項外帶好處就是它能減少一般堆肥過程中所產生的惡臭。

對於城市居民或是沒有室外空間可用來堆肥的人而言，蠕蟲堆肥法可說是一項絕佳選擇。您所需的只是一個附蓋的大容器、廢棄紙類、泥煤苔、少許水份、當然還有蠕蟲。當蠕蟲是為了環境而派上用場時，牠們就搖身一變，成了超級英雄！

1. somewhat　adv. 有幾分，有點兒
I am somewhat angry that Jack was late.
傑克遲到這件事讓我有點生氣。
2. creepy　a. 令人害怕的，令人毛骨悚然的
That creepy sound gave Ann goosebumps.
那個恐佈的聲音讓小安渾身起雞皮疙瘩。
3. organic　a. 有機的，生物的
The prices of organic foods are higher.
有機食品的價格比較高昂。
4. twist　n. 改變；（形勢或事態的）意外轉折
There are so many twists in this movie that it is impossible to know who the killer is.
這部電影的劇情峰迴路轉，讓人猜不出兇手是誰。
5. bonus　n. 額外的好處
Being close to my home is one of the bonuses of this job.
這份工作的額外好處之一就是它離我家很近。

1. fill up.../fill...up　　裝滿……
Eric kept filling our glasses up with wine.
艾瑞克一直幫我們斟滿酒。
2. be eager to + 原形動詞　　渴望∕熱切於……
Ted is eager to go to Mexico this summer.
泰德今年夏天迫不及待地要去墨西哥。
3. cut down on...　　減少∕縮減……
Zoe is trying to cut down on salt.
柔依試著要減少鹽分的攝取量。

1. vermicomposting　n. 蠕蟲堆肥法
2. compost　vt. 將……製成堆肥 & n. 堆肥料（本文中亦以現在分詞作形容詞用）
3. decompose　vi. 分解；腐爛
4. scraps　n. 吃剩的食物（恆用複數）
5. wiggly　a. 扭動狀的；波浪形的
6. peat moss　n. 泥煤苔

A lot of our everyday waste...
（我們日常的廢棄物中，有許多……）
They can eat up to half their weight in food every day.
（牠們每天能吃下多達牠們體重一半的食物。）
以下比較 everyday 與 every day 的差別：
1. everyday 為一形容詞，僅用於名詞前，表『日常的，每天的』。
We should make laughter part of our everyday lives.
（我們應讓歡笑成為我們日常生活中的一部份。）
2. every day 則為時間副詞，表『每天』。
Ricky wants to lose some weight, so he goes to the gym every day.
（瑞奇想要減肥，所以他每天上健身房。